Start Mobile Catering!A Business Worth Starting?

Do you want to start a mobile catering business? If you are not
sure what this is about or would like to know more, stay here with me and I'll do my best to answer all your questions, which will include the following:

What is a mobile catering small business

How do I get started?

Legal requirements and hours of work

How much money can I make?

Pros and Cons of starting a mobile catering business

Start Mobile Catering - Find Out More!

A mobile catering small business
opportunity is basically providing a hot food/drink service to people or businesses in a location where this service is not currently available. A
remote location is ideal especially when there's no other food service
providers locally. You would then provide this service by using catering vehicle which in essence is a kitchen on wheels, and a place where you
prepare, cook and serve food ready to sell to the public

People like the convenience of a mobile catering and a good mobile catering trailer should sell a range of hot and cold
foods ranging from the usual burgers/rolls to sandwiches to other
healthy eating options such as salads and vegetarian snacks.

Food can be prepared to customers requirements so it
is not like other typical fast food providers where everything is mass
produced in advance, the customer has a far greater say in how their
food is cooked.

How Do I Start A Mobile Catering Business

Your mobile catering business number one priority is for you to find and secure a pitch (location) from which you can start trading your business.
This can either take the form of a static site
where your trailer is permanently placed, or a temporary site where you
trade from daily and at the end of your trading day you take your
trailer home with you.

How do you secure a site? Good question and below are some suggestions for you to think about:

Ask at the local Sunday Market

Find a Spot On An Industrial Estate

Try Your Neighboring Car Boot Sale

Train Stations, Bus Stations

Most DIY Stores Provide Spaces For Catering Trailers

These are just a few locations to get you thinking. When you start to look around you will be surprised where your food services might be needed, and how many possibilities are present. Don't forget your business is mobile...so if it's the pitch is not that busy, just move on!

Please Note: Most people do the opposite and buy a trailer first then have nowhere to trade. Important- Try to secure a pitch first, then buy or rent a catering trailer.

Legal Requirements, Hours of Work & Location

You will need to have a current Food and Hygiene Certificate to cook and sell food to the public; this is a document that shows you have passed a test on Food and Hygiene. You are then issued with a certificate and by law you must have it displayed on your catering trailer.

You will also need an LPG Test Certificate (gas) and an Electric Certificate to legally trade from your catering trailer. (this ensures appliances, LPG, pipes etc are safe) Again this shows you have conformed to Health and Safety Practices You should also be registered with the local council who will visit you and inspect your trailer to make sure you comply with the food and hygiene laws.

Location as with any brick and mortar small business opportunity is important and the same applies for this particular business, but in a slightly different way. You don't really want to have your mobile catering business near other food service providers if possible.

This is your unique advantage after all your business is mobile... and can within reason go where the money is just make sure to obtain a license (if required) or have the relevant permission from the land owners.

Your hours of work are determined by the location or local area that you service. So if you work on a Sunday Market obviously you probably work for just the one day. However if you are catering for people who work on Industrial Estates, then your trading days (5-6) will be substantially longer.

Pros and Cons of Starting a Mobile Catering Business

Pros

Cheaper start-up costs compared to a shop

No business rates (for now), or lease to tie you down for x amount of years

Cash business

No real competition RIGHT! you picked the location

You are in full control, your business

Can be very lucrative

Servicing your local area

Expand your catering business at your own pace

Shorter trading hours compared to other food retailers

Personal satisfaction is high on the list

Cons

Initial outlay can be expensive

Finding a catering pitch can be difficult

Your site may not have long-term prospects

Very hard work and early start required

You are directly responsible for cooking and food preparation

Very hot during the summer especially with the added heat through cooking

Trailer left over night could be stolen

No real time off except for Christmas unless you employ staff

Working on your own, can be a little lonely

If you are sick or do not work you will not get paid

Mobile Catering Business - Conclusion

So now you've been briefly introduced
to the mobile catering business opportunity, we have also touched on
some basic start-up steps. Now that you have a little more insight you
can make up your own mind and see if this kind of small business is right for you.

I have tried to be honest with most things here, but there is a lot more detail that I have not gone into on this page. So if you would like to know more or are considering the idea of starting your own catering business but lack the courage to take it any further.

Read Chapter 1 and discover how I got started with no experience and a tiny dose of courage... my own small business in mobile catering.

Don't forget take a look at my getting started mobile catering eBook pack it's packed with tips, advice, profit/loss worksheets etc and will provide you with full start-up information.